Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-07-25
OUR MINERAL RICHES.
VALUE OF THE PRODUCTS TAKEN
FROM THE EARTH IN SO.

About $500, 600. 900 of the Different Met
ais and Other Underground Wealth Ac-
counted for-Death of Gen. Dunn-Report
on Convict Labor-Rev. Councils Case
Before the Interstate People.
WASHINGTON CITY, July 25.-The follow
ing statement of the mineral productions Of
the United States in the calendar year 1886
is issued by the United States geological sur
vey, in advance OF a report on the mineral re-
sources of the United States prepared by
David T. Day. chief of the division OF mining
statistics and technology.
Notably increased production, and also an
increase in value have been the general char
acteristics of the mineral industries during
1886. The total value of the mineral products
increased from, roundly, $42s, 10000 in 1856
to Says, 900 900 in 1856. The important factor
in this gain of sS7, 900, 900 was the increased
production of pig iron from 4,044, 525 long
tons in 1885, to 5, 6S3, 329 long tons in 1886,
and an appreciation of rs cents in the aver
age value per ton, making total gain of
$50. ASS, 800 in this industry alone. The con-
dition of the principal industries is srmmar-
lied as follows:
Iron--The principal statistics for 1856 were:
Iron ore consumed TO- 900, 900 long TONS value
at the mines, SIS. 000.0 600 Imported iron ore
consumed l,059, 4S5 long tons; total iron ore
consumed, 1,039, 4S3 long tons. Pig iron
made 1858, 329 long tons, an increase of
/, SIS, SOB tons as compared with 1885; value
at furnaces, s95, 1876, 100 or $50, AS, 1850 more
than in 1881. Total spot value of all iron and
steel in the first stage of manufacture, exclud-
ing all Implications, Sl42, 500, 000, an increase
OF 80, 500, 900 as compared with 1855.
Gold and silver-The total value of gold
produced in 1886 was So, 600, 900, an in
crease of s., 1872 900 over 1885. The produc-
ton of silver decreased from SOL 600, 900 in
1855 to s5l ,000, 900 in 1856.
Copper-The production in 1884,, including
4,500,0OOJ pounds from imported pyrites,
amounted to $50, CTS 0o1 pounds, valued at
sl6, 4o9, sos; a decrease of TO- 254, 526 pounds,
and Sl,S25, 496 in value from 1855. The
average price of copper in 1886 declined to
I09. cents per pound
Lead-The total production increased to
l35, 500 tons in 1886, valued at sl2, COZ, 749 In
1885 the production was l29, Az tons, valued
at $40, 400. AL.
Quicksilver-In 1886 the production in
California was %, 9Sl TASKS, or 2,29l, 547
pounds, valued at s1,O60,0O0 This is de,
crease of 2,092 TASKS, but the total value
shows an increase of $50, S1l, due to an in
crease in price of s.. 50 per flask. Utah pro-
duced 81 TASKS of quicksilver in addition to
the above
Coal-The total production of all kinds OF
coal in 1886 exclusive of that consumed al
the mines, was l07, 6s2, 200 short tons, valued
at Sl47, liz, 755 at the mines This may be
divided into Pennsy lvania anthracite, 3d.
600, AS tons, valued at ST, sos, 126; all other
Goals, including bitumlnous, brown coal,
ignite and small lots of anthracite produced
in Arkansas and Colorado 7O.gs5, 734 short
tons, valued at SIS, 554, 629. The total pro
duction, including colliery consumption, was
Pennsylvania anthracite 81, OS5 446 short tons
all other Goals, -, 107 H57 short tons, making
the total absolute production of all Goals in
the United States ll2, 743, 405 short tons
valued as follows Anthracite, $40. 1l9 l2U;
bituminous SIS. 4S. 056; total value, Sl54
COO l76. The total production of all kinds OF
coal shows net gam OF l. is5, sSi short tons
compared with 1885 but loss III spot valut
of q. 40 420.
Petroeum-The tolal production was IS,
10, ll5 barrels of forty-two gallons each, o.
which the Pennsylvania and New York field
produced y, rs, 600 barrels The total VALUE
| at an average of Il 4 cents, the average valu,
of the Pennsylvania and New York petro
| leum, was $50 02s, 457. The production showed
| an increase of e, 265 GA barrels over the pro
duction of 1885.
Brick and Tile-Value, SIS, 800, 600 Thi,
value represents an increase of 10 per cent
over last year. The increase in production
| was slightly greater than 10 per cent, as ther'
was some falling off in value during part OF
| the year
Salt-The total production increased from
| 7,03s, 65S barrels tof 2sO pounds each in 1855
| to :, 7O7 JSl barrels in 1886. The total vain
Ill 1886 was a, Isl. 5S5, and in 1885 81 SIS, }}44